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HERWriter Guide

Hello Anon

Thank you for asking this great question.

Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This is followed by chronic inflammation of the joint lining. Healthy cartilage is a cushion between the bones in a joint. Osteoarthritis usually affects the hands, feet, spine, hips, and knees. People with osteoarthritis usually have joint pain and limited movement of the affected joint.

Osteoarthritis is associated with aging. The exact cause is unclear. As osteoarthritis develops, you experience loss of cartilage, bone spurs around the joint, and muscle weakness of the extremity.

Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of developing osteoarthritis:
Obesity
Genetic factors
Injury to the joint surface
Occupations and physical activities that put stress on joints
Neuromuscular disorders, like diabetes

Osteoporosis is when bones become weak and brittle. If left unchecked, it can lead to bone breaks ( fracture ). Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. hroughout life, old bone is removed and new bone is added to the skeleton. During childhood and adolescence, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become heavier, larger, and denser. Peak bone mass is reached at around age 30. From that point, more bone is lost than replaced. If not treated, bone losses may lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more likely to occur if full bone mass was not achieved during the bone-building years.

Bone density also plays a role in bone health. Bone density is determined by the amount of calcium , phosphorus , and other minerals within the bone framework. As the mineral content of a bone (especially calcium) decreases, the bone weakens. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D and exercising regularly can keep bones strong throughout life.

I hope this helps-
Susan

July 28, 2017 - 12:37pm

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